by: Dr. Allen Domelle
Ezekiel 34:27
“And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.”
The greatest need of the world is to know the LORD. We live in times when many try to make themselves known when this world needs to know the LORD. Throughout the Book of Ezekiel, God makes Himself known in four different ways.
First, the LORD will be known through judgment. Ezekiel 25:17 says, “And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.” It is sad that because Israel didn’t allow the LORD to work through them, the only way He could make Himself known to the world was through judgment. The LORD is going to make Himself known through your life through one way or another. If you choose not to serve the LORD, you then only give Him one other choice by which He can make Himself known through you, and that is through judgment. Friend, don’t force God’s hand. Don’t make God have to resort to judgment for your life to bring Him glory.
Second, the LORD will be known through deliverance. Ezekiel 20:42 says, “And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel…” There are going to be times when you face the insurmountable. The LORD will be known through your life when He delivers you from the impossible. When the world sees that you had no chance, but the LORD brought you through that which seemed to overwhelm you, it is then that the world will know the LORD. You may not like the trials you face, but the LORD is using those trials in your life to show Himself to the world. Let the LORD’s power be seen in your life during your times of trial.
Third, the LORD will be known when the bands of sin are broken. The verse above says that the world shall “…shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke…” One of the greatest things about overcoming sin is that the world sees that the LORD is the only hope for victory. One great reason you need to overcome your sin is to give others hope that they can also overcome sin with the LORD’s help. Sin has driven many to hopelessness, and their only out is through vices. You can help them to see there is hope by allowing the LORD to deliver you from the bands of your sin.
Fourth, the LORD will be known when you allow Him to work through you. Ezekiel 20:44 says, “And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake…” God always uses people to make Himself known. Why not allow Him to work through you? When God’s Holy Spirit empowers you to do a great work, the world will see the LORD. You can do God’s work through your own power, but the world will never see the LORD. Let me ask you, when is the last time you spent time begging for the power of God? The LORD wants to work through you, but you must be willing to yield yourself to His power if He is going to do so. Christian, stop trying to do God’s work in human power. It is only through His power that His name will be known through you.